Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) rescues mice from γ-ray irradiation by accelerating hematopoiesis and curtailing immunosuppression

Pharm Biol. 2017 Dec;55(1):306-319. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2016.1237976.

Abstract

Context: Beetroot [Beta vulgaris Linné (Chenopodiaceae)], a vegetable usually consumed as a food or a medicinal plant in Europe, has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Since the lymphohematopoietic system is the most sensitive tissue to ionizing radiation, protecting it from radiation damage is one of the best ways to decrease detrimental effects from radiation exposure.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the radio-protective effects of beetroot in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitor cells.

Materials and methods: Beetroot extract was administered at a dose of 400 mg/mouse per os (p.o.) three times into C57BL/6 mice and, at day 10 after γ-ray irradiation, diverse molecular presentations were measured and compared against non-irradiated and irradiated mice with PBS treatments. Survival of beetroot-fed and unfed irradiated animal was also compared.

Results: Beetroot not only stimulated cell proliferation, but also minimized DNA damage of splenocytes. Beetroot also repopulated S-phase cells and increased Ki-67 or c-Kit positive cells in bone marrow. Moreover, beetroot-treated mice showed notable boosting of differentiation of HSCs into burst-forming units-erythroid along with increased production of IL-3. Also, beetroot-treated mice displayed enhancement in the level of hematocrit and hemoglobin as well as the number of red blood cell in peripheral blood. Beetroot diet improved survival rate of lethally exposed mice with a dose reduction factor (DRF) of 1.1.

Discussion and conclusion: These results suggest that beetroot has the potency to preserve bone marrow integrity and stimulate the differentiation of HSCs against ionizing radiation.

Keywords: Ionizing radiation; bone marrow cells; radioprotective effects; splenocytes.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects
  • Beta vulgaris / chemistry*
  • Bone Marrow / drug effects*
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Bone Marrow / radiation effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / radiation effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gamma Rays / adverse effects*
  • Hematinics / isolation & purification
  • Hematinics / pharmacology*
  • Hematopoiesis / drug effects*
  • Hematopoiesis / radiation effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / immunology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / radiation effects
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects*
  • Immune Tolerance / radiation effects
  • Immunologic Factors / isolation & purification
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-3 / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Roots
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / isolation & purification
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / radiation effects
  • Time Factors
  • Whole-Body Irradiation / adverse effects

Substances

  • Hematinics
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interleukin-3
  • Radiation-Protective Agents